The NMHU Softball team won both games of their non-conference double header against the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University, on 4/11, at Brandt Field. The Cowgirls won both games in fewer than the complete seven innings because of the eight run rule in collegiate softball. The Cowgirls took game one by the final score of 8-0 in six innings. In game two, the Cowgirls took a commanding lead early in the game and went on to win the game by the final score of 17-9 in six innings of play. With the wins against the Aggies, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach Shellie Broyles, improve to a 22-24 overall record and remain at 14-18 in the RMAC.
The Cowgirls were the first to score in game one. They put up two runs in the bottom of the second inning on one hit and took advantage of two Aggies' errors. The Cowgirls picked up four more runs in the bottom of the third inning. After three innings of play the Cowgirls held a 6-0 lead.
The Cowgirls defense was doing a good job of shutting down the Aggies' and Cowgirls' pitcher
Jessica Brink pitched a good game from the pitcher's circle. The Aggies had not scored in the game despite picking up six hits. The Cowgirls ended the game early by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. They won game one by the final score of 8-0 thanks to the eight run rule in collegiate softball.
Jessica Brink (7-6) was credited with the win in game one for the Cowgirls. She threw a complete six innings from the pitcher's circle and faced 28 batters. Brink allowed no runs on six hits, struck out four batters and walked three.
The Cowgirls' offense got off to a good start in game one. They combined for a .406 team batting average, scoring eight runs on 13 hits, with one double and a homerun.
Lynette Directo,
Roxanne Avalos, and
Jenelle Klassen were the offensive leaders in game one for the Cowgirls. Directo was 3-3 at the plate, with one RBI, two runs scored and a solo homerun. Avalos went 3-4 from the batter's box, with one double, an RBI, and a run scored. Klassen was 2-4 at the plate with two runs scored.
The Cowgirls' offense picked up where they had left off in game two of the double header. They started the scoring in game two with six runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Lynette Directo,
Katie Kerr, and
Molly McDougall all had two-RBI hits in the inning to put the runs on the scoreboard. The Cowgirls continued their offensive onslaught in the bottom of the second inning with four runs on four hits. After two innings of play the Cowgirls held a commanding 10-0 lead.
The Aggies responded in the top of the third inning with four runs on six hits and two errors by the Cowgirls.
Katie Kerr hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the third inning that allowed
Lynette Directo to cross home plate. The Cowgirls still held the lead at 11-4 after three innings of play.
The Aggies' offense looked to get back into the game in the top of the fifth inning. They scored five runs in the inning off of only two hits and thanks to two more errors by the Cowgirls. The Cowgirls' offense kept putting runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. They scored two runs when
Alyssa Ramirez hit a two-RBI single up the middle of the infield, scoring
Roxanne Avalos and
Katie Kerr. Although the Aggies had considerably cut into the Cowgirls' lead, the Cowgirls still had a 13-9 advantage after five innings of play.
The Aggies couldn't get any runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Cowgirls came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning looking to end the game early once again. The Cowgirls scored two runs to bring the score up to 15-9. Then with
Shelby Watts on third base,
Molly McDougall stepped up to the plate and blasted a two-run walk-off homerun over the left-field wall to end the game. The Cowgirls won game two of the double header by the final score of 17-9.
Jessica Brink (8-6) was credited with the win in game two for the Cowgirls. Brink started the game for the Cowgirls in the pitcher's circle but she was relieved by
Jenelle Klassen in the third inning.
Jenelle Klassen threw one and two thirds innings from the pitcher's circle for the Cowgirls and faced 13 batters. Klassen allowed five runs on three hits, but only four of her runs were earned. She struck out one batter and walked four.
Jessica Brink was brought back into the game in the fifth inning. In total, Brink threw four and one third innings and faced 23 batters. She allowed four runs on eight hits, but only three of her runs were earned. Brink struck out three batters and walked one.
The Cowgirls' offense exploded in game two of the double header. They combined for an impressive .541 team batting average with an outstanding 17 runs off of 20 hits. The Cowgirls amassed three doubles, four walks, and a walk-off homerun.
Lynette Directo,
Molly McDougall, and
Roxanne Avalos were the offensive leaders for the Cowgirls in game two. Directo finished the game a perfect 5-5 at the plate. She hit one double and had two RBIs and three runs scored. McDougall was 4-5 from the batter's box, with an impressive five RBIs, two runs scored and the game winning walk-off homerun. Avalos was also 4-5 at the plate, with an RBI and four runs scored.
The Cowgirls' offense was on fire in the double header against the Aggies.
Lynette Directo highlighted the Cowgirls' offensive onslaught. Directo finished the day a perfect 8-8 at the plate, with three RBIs, five runs scored, one double, and a solo homerun.
Molly McDougall capped off the Cowgirls' great offensive showing with a two-run walk-off homerun to finish game two.
The Cowgirls will continue conference action again, on 4/14-15, as they host the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College, in Las Vegas, N.M. The Skyhawks are currently in third place in the RMAC with a 20-12 conference record and 22-19 in overall play. This will be the last home series for the Cowgirls in the 2012 season. Sunday, 4/15, will be senior day for the Cowgirls as they honor their senior players in the last home game of the season. Game one on Saturday, 4/14, is scheduled to begin at 12 pm and game one on Sunday, 4/15, will start at 11 am. Game two for both days will begin shortly after the completion of game one. If you can't make it out to Brandt Field to watch the Cowgirls in action, you can watch the Live Stats
HERE. Come on out to the field to catch the last home stand of Cowgirls Softball and help honor the 2012 seniors.
Click
HERE For Complete Game One Stats
Click
HERE For Complete Game Two Stats
GO COWGIRLS!!!
